January 2015
Happy New Year 

PRIORITIES

This New Year's Eve, my wife, in-laws and I were planning on playing games and bringing in 2015 together. We were babysitting our two young grandsons, but they were asleep for the night and wouldn't be part of the celebration, or so we thought. Around 11:40 p.m., my wife amazingly heard our grandson cry out. How do moms and grandmas hear little kids? It's amazing! She went up to see what was wrong and then called for me to come up to the room, because our grandson had thrown up all over the bed. He was sick all night. My in-laws welcomed in 2015 by themselves,
but they understood that we were doing what was more important. 

A few days later, my granddaughter was visiting, and while I was outside working on something, she came out and said she had made me a card. I said I would look at it later. Bad move, wrong priorities, the moment was gone. I missed that opportunity. I saw the card later that night on the kitchen counter after they were back at their house. 

This year, remember to keep relationships a priority in your life, especially those who are close to you. "But those who won't care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers." 1 Timothy 5:8

Happy New Year 2015.

Sincerely,
 
Jim Smith
Executive Director 

ANNUAL MEETING
Sunday, January 25, Whittier
  

Redemption Hill Church
16153 E Russell Street
Whittier, CA 90603.  Directions

3:45-4:45 Breakout Sessions
4:45 - 5:45 Dinner (free, but rsvp needed when you click and register online)
6:00 General Session

Main Session Speaker: Dr. Jim Smith
 

Break Out Sessions:

  • How to Dramatically Increase Giving in Your Church: Brian Howard
  • Effective Church Leadership Strategies for Husbands and Wives: Sam & Dina Ticas
  • How Our Children's Ministry Really Grew Our Church: Sam Brumit
  • How Our Small Church is Reaching Our Large City: Jesse Mendez
  • 25 Years of Leadership Lessons: Robert Bishop
  • Cómo mantener la segunda generación (How to Keep The Second Generation In Your Church): Emilio Núñez (in Spanish)
  • What Every Man Should Hear About Leadership From a Woman's Perspective: Orbelina Eguizabal (in Spanish)
Childcare provided for children ages 2-5 years old--RSVP needed through registration link below.


AVOID BURNOUT, LEAVE A LEGACY 
March 3 - Free PCN Training Event
 
Daniel Montgomery will be speaking on how to lead from communion rather than from compulsion and how to keep from burning out as a pastor and leave a legacy. Daniel Montgomery is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Sojourn Community Church, a multi-site community with three campuses in Louisville, KY and one in New Albany, IN. Sojourn began in September 2000 with approximately 60 people.  As a result of being intentionally gospel centered while engaging the culture of Louisville, Sunday morning attendance has grown to 4,000 people. Sojourn is known for grafting itself into the unique and diverse culture of Louisville. Daniel describes his role in the words of Count Zinzendorf, "Preach the Gospel, die and be forgotten."  Sign up here.

 


Brian Howard
CHURCH PLANTING GOING STRONG
Brian Howard, Church Multiplication
 

2014 was a great year for Church Planting in Pacific Church Network! We have now planted seven new churches since the beginning of 2013.

 

Mission 316, San Marcos

Seed, Ventura

Redemption Hill Uptown, Whittier

Soma, Santa Clarita

Citylights, Fountain Valley

Tradewind Communities, Kailua, Hawaii

Redemption Hill La Habra, La Habra

 

Not only are we planting churches, but each of the seven churches that we have planted in 2013 and 2014 are moving forward and growing. These seven church plants have baptized over 100 people to date! But we are just getting started. Our goal is to continue to plant four new churches every year and 76 new churches by 2026. At our upcoming annual meeting, we will be announcing our 2015 church planters. I am looking forward to 2015 and will be interacting with potential church planters, coaching our current church planters, speaking in order to continue to raise awareness, and preparing for our 2016 church planters.

 

"We continue to make great progress and I am bullish on PCN Church Planting!"

 

 


CHILDREN BRINGING IN MORE PEOPLE
San Marcos

Mission 316 Church in San Marcos started a children's ministry called Kids Unlimited this fall with the hopes of reaching more people for Christ. Earlier this fall, they had about 100 people in church. December 7 was their Kids Unlimited Grand Finale. "God blessed us with 185 people with lots of guests," pastor Sam Brumit reported. Mission 316 started as a church plant with PCN in 2012 and continues to reach new people. Sam will share more about their children's ministry at our annual meeting.


NEW PASTOR IN COMMERCE
Brian Lemos

After a long search for their next pastor, First Baptist Church of Commerce is excited to announce that Brian Lemos has been voted in as their new part-time pastor! Since his graduation from Biola in 2008, Brian has been the Director of Communications and Media at Redemption Hill Church. He also is a published composer and enjoys music. Congratulations to FBC Commerce!

PASTOR INSTALLATION SERVICE
Kevin Ibanez 

On January 4, the first Sunday of the new year, the first thing Valley Bible Church did was to install Kevin Ibanez as their new pastor. Kevin and Andria, along with their four kids, are looking for a house to rent in Vista, and Kevin started preaching there on December 21. Jim Smith spoke at the installation service which was followed by a barbecue. Congratulations to VBC.

FESTIVE HISPANIC CHRISTMAS
Banquet in Bell Gardens

Close to 100 people from several of PCN's Spanish-speaking congregations gathered at Bell Gardens Baptist Church. Pacific Church Network's Hispanic Ministries Director, Emilio Núñez, did a great job organizing this wonderful time of fellowship, encouragement and great food. Two workshops at our annual meeting will be offered in Spanish.

SMALL CHURCH CONFERENCE
Mustard Seed Conference, Dana Point

On Monday and Tuesday, February 2-3, Pacific Church Network is 
joining with TM for this excellent conference especially designed for churches with 150 attendees or less. Pacific Church Network members can attend for the special price of $79 (includes your spouse), which includes one night's stay at the hotel. The Mustard Seed conference invites you and your spouse to participate in two days of encouragement, training, inspiration and fellowship at South Shores Church in Dana Point, California. This excellent event is coming up soon, so register now. More information and register.


ANDY STANLEY & CRAIG GROESCHEL
February 26, Denver

Deadline for discounted tickets is January 9.

                

These are two of the main voices in leadership today and they are sharing their insights into what makes a great leader. The focused environment of One Day will allow you to hear each of their perspectives on core leadership issues through both individual teaching and discussion. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions during a Q&A time following each session. Speakers will cover church leadership essentials such as growing an organization, building effective systems, navigating change, developing young leaders for immediate influence, and much more. The event is hosted by Southeast Christian Church, 9650 Jordan Road, Parker, CO 80134. Conference registration begins at 7:30am. The event is from 8:30am until 4pm. Purchase tickets at the group rate of $79/each through January 9 by contacting the CBAmerica Office at assistant@cbamerica.org. You will purchase your tickets directly through the CBA office. Additional event details can also be found online at catalystconference.com.



SHARPENING YOUR SWORD
February 28 - Free PCN Training Event
 

Preparing an effective Bible lesson or sermon is vital in a church. A free workshop (in Spanish) on how to develop good Bible study skills will be held on Saturday, February 28 for all Spanish-speaking church leaders in the Pacific Church Network.

Iglesia Bautista De Bell, 4900 Clara Street, Cudahy, CA 90201
323-560-1238. For more information and to register click here.

 


TOP THOM RAINER BLOGS
His Most Popular Posts of 2014

Thom S. Rainer is a writer, researcher, speaker, and current president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. He is the author of several books, including Simple Church. He has a well read blog and here are the top posts of 2014 including the number one post: Top Ten Ways Churches Drive Away First-time Guests.

 


TOP READ ARTICLES 
20 Popular Articles from CT's Gleanings

It's time for the best of 2014. Many lists are available. This one was from Christianity Today. They posted the top 20 articles read from their Gleanings, which covers important developments in the church and world. See the top twenty

GRADUATION 
Brent Strawsburg Earns Apologetics Masters

For 30 years Dr. Brent Strawsburg has specialized in making apologetics relevant. Brent currently provides messages and seminars for churches on Christian Apologetics. He earned his M.Div from Talbot School of Theology and his D.Min from Dallas Theological Seminary. In December of 2014, Brent graduated from Biola University with an MA in Christian Apologetics. He also recently completed a book on Apologetics titled, "Footprints of Faith: Defending the Christian Faith in a Skeptical Age." If you are interested in contacting Brent to do a workshop on Apologetics, click on the links below:

www.brentstrawsburg.com
 
Brent.strawsburg@gmail.com.

 


Pacific Church Network
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